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Bay area Air National Guard unit rescues U.S. Navy contractor over Pacific Ocean

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Roderick B. Bersamina
  • 129th Rescue Wing
The California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing completed its 1,013th save Nov. 12, after responding to a call for a long-distance rescue mission over the Pacific Ocean.

The mission resulted in saving the life of a seriously ill civilian contractor on board the USNS Guadalupe, a U.S. Navy vessel which was approximately 560 miles off the California coast.

"Due to the distance of the vessel and no local assets in the area, we reached out to the 129th Rescue Wing for assistance," said Lt. Kayla Abruzzese, 11th Coast Guard District watchstander. "Through the coordination efforts, we were able to get the person in distress to higher medical care."

With coordination between Air force Rescue Center and U.S. Coast Guard, the 129th launched two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, an MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft and a Guardian Angel pararescue team from Moffett Federal Airfield around 11 a.m. to the USNS Guadalupe. Once the Guardian Angel Team boarded the ship, they stabilized the patient before loading him into a helicopter to depart back to the airfield. The Guardian Angel team continued to provide care for the civilian patient during the 4 hour return flight. An ambulance met the team at Moffett ANGB and immediately transported the patient to a local hospital.

Since its designation as a rescue unit in 1975, the 129th Rescue Wing is credited with saving the lives of more than 1,000 people.  The Wing conducts combat search and rescue missions, as well as the rescue of distressed persons on board ships, lost or injured hikers, and medical evacuations across the West Coast.

"The 129th Rescue Wing's bottom line is the Air Force rescue community's motto:  That others may live," said Col. Taft Aujero, 129th Rescue Wing commander. "Our more than 1,000 saves both at home and abroad speaks to the extraordinary talent of our members. I could not be prouder of them and their accomplishments."